What cheeses me off

[SYD]

It's a 2 year old brand new fridge. Problems started occurring well within warranty but they were intermittent. LG said if they send repair person out and they find nothing wrong that I'd be billed for the visit.

Fridge only $1000 but it's still money but now fridge well outside warranty. Not sure bringing a repair person out to try and fix would be worth it especially with ridiculous call out fees and cost of repair.

I've done some rough calculations and with current electricity usage my next quarterly bill is going to be close to $800 if not more which is almost triple my previous bill and well above current bill.

This is the society we created. I buy a faulty product and I'm liable because these greedy corporations are not held responsible for the junk they sell. I should expect at least 10 years of stress free use from a $1000 fridge. I've also lost count of the food we've thrown it as it does not last long in the fridge. And then there's chance of food poisoning or sickness for wife and daughter.

So what do I do now? Spend $1000 on another fridge? My last 3 fridges have been lemons. What chance the next one doesn't have issues? Murphy is over there smiling....

Australian Consumer Law and the broader Sale of Goods Act ought to provide some protection if the fridge is indeed dodgy and not fit for its intended purpose. Regardless of the “warranty”. So long as it hasn’t been misused or damaged and just sat in the kitchen since new.

 

[JohnK]

Australian Consumer Law and the broader Sale of Goods Act ought to provide some protection if the fridge is indeed dodgy and not fit for its intended purpose. Regardless of the “warranty”. So long as it hasn’t been misused or damaged and just sat in the kitchen since new.

But what do I do in the mean time? Buy another fridge? Or keep throwing food out and paying ridiculous electricity bills?

By the way fridge has not been misused. It's full of food as it's intended.

 

[andye]

It's a 2 year old brand new fridge. Problems started occurring well within warranty but they were intermittent. LG said if they send repair person out and they find nothing wrong that I'd be billed for the visit...

I ran into this issue about charging for a visit with no fault found with dodo internet a few years back. It infuriated me then and I did wonder whether it was enforceable.

 

[SYD]

But what do I do in the mean time? Buy another fridge? Or keep throwing food out and paying ridiculous electricity bills?

By the way fridge has not been misused. It's full of food as it's intended.

Under the law, the merchant is required to repair or replace the item if it wasn’t of merchantable quality.

 

[drron]

@JohnK you are too pessimistic. About time to start whistling.

 

[JohnK]

Under the law, the merchant is required to repair or replace the item if it wasn’t of merchantable quality.

Let's assume that in the end there is no decisive proof it's a warranty issue and the bill ends up being $1000+ and LG manage to weasel out of it. I'm stuck fixing something out of my pocket where I could have purchased something new.

@drron surprised you don't know me better. I understood my luck better than anyone a long time ago and have adjusted my expectations accordingly. I accept my fate and I feel comfortable knowing that's its not possible for someone to have so much bad luck on so many different issues without outside intervention.

And I do whistle, still smile and I'm still hoping one day luck is not going to keep harassing me and taunting me this way. One day...

 

[Lynda2475]

It wont take long before you will have paid more in excess electricity usage than the replacement cost of the fridge. Borrow a meter and verify what the power hog is, if its the dodgy fridge cut your losses, better to have one that works as expected and isn't driving up the energy bill indefinitely.

 

[JohnK]

I'm not sure I've really noticed before but for home insurance (or motor) the insurance period is say 23/Jul/22 until 11:59pm 23/Jul/23. So they are giving you an extra day of cover.

Why is the renewal from 23/Jul/23 until 11:59pm 23/Jul/24? The greedy giveth and the greedy taketh back?

Well not happy with Suncorp in the way they handled the storm related claim last year and not happy with their ~$220 increase. Now Budget Direct policy commences on 24/Jul/24 and I'm happy.

 

[Lost Redditor]

What CMO right now is how many places in Norway don't accept credit cards. Most restaurants do (although AmEx not so much) and most bigger shops do accept them though. However, machines such as parking meters, vending machines, seemingly don't accept any CCs. Luckily I did bring my Wise debit card. Also, service providers such as phone companies reject payments with international billing addresses. It made getting a local number a bit tricky.

There's a culture here around credit cards where you're considered, by many, to be irresponsible by "using money you don't have". There's a popular TV show called "Luksus fellen" which translates to "luxury trap" meaning people who abuse credit cards and live beyond their means to a point where they're trapped, and some have to file for bankruptcy. They don't have rewards cards here, so most people just use debit cards. I've noticed some looks when a card is declined because they don't accept credit cards. Very odd.

Norway is so progressive in many ways, but a bit old fashioned/conservative/quaint in others

 

[Pushka]

What CMO right now is how many places in Norway don't accept credit cards. Most restaurants do (although AmEx not so much) and most bigger shops do accept them though. However, machines such as parking meters, vending machines, seemingly don't accept any CCs. Luckily I did bring my Wise debit card. Also, service providers such as phone companies reject payments with international billing addresses. It made getting a local number a bit tricky.

There's a culture here around credit cards where you're considered, by many, to be irresponsible by "using money you don't have". There's a popular TV show called "Luksus fellen" which translates to "luxury trap" meaning people who abuse credit cards and live beyond their means to a point where they're trapped, and some have to file for bankruptcy. They don't have rewards cards here, so most people just use debit cards. I've noticed some looks when a card is declined because they don't accept credit cards. Very odd.

Norway is so progressive in many ways, but a bit old fashioned/conservative/quaint in others

That's strange for that 'general area'. When we were in Copenhagen well pre Covid, we could only purchase just a can of soft drink using credit card.

 

[Lost Redditor]

That's strange for that 'general area'. When we were in Copenhagen well pre Covid, we could only purchase just a can of soft drink using credit card.

I think Denmark and Sweden are lot further ahead in these regards

 

[Lynda2475]

Seems a crazy leap of logic to assume that because you use a credit card you are irresponsible with money and actually need the credit. It is simply safe (due to fraud protections you don't get with a debit card), convenient and earns points.

I've never paid so much as 1c of interest on any credit card I've held; and these days almost all the debit cards are cobranded with Visa or Mastercard anyway, so just because they see a Mastercard symbol doesn't mean you are using credit.

Even if its a Norwegian policy to restrict credit card use for their citizens out of a misplaced duty of care, it seems odd they would worry about foreigners spending habits, given they arent a burden to their government safety nets.

 

[Pushka]

Seems a crazy leap of logic to assume that because you use a credit card you are irresponsible with money and actually need the credit. It is simply safe (due to fraud protections you don't get with a debit card), convenient and earns points.

I've never paid so much as 1c of interest on any credit card I've held; and these days almost all the debit cards are cobranded with Visa or Mastercard anyway, so just because they see a Mastercard symbol doesn't mean you are using credit.

Even if its a Norwegian policy to restrict credit card use for their citizens out of a misplaced duty of care, it seems odd they would worry about foreigners spending habits, given they arent a burden to their government safety nets.

Bank loan applications make assumptions about the level of spend and monies outstanding on credit cards and their limits when assessing your ability to afford the loan. So it's a bank thing, seemingly across the world.

 

[Lynda2475]

Bank loan applications make assumptions about the level of spend and monies outstanding on credit cards and their limits when assessing your ability to afford the loan. So it's a bank thing, seemingly across the world.

Not quite the same thing though. When applying for a loan you are asking for more credit so the bank considers the total credit you already have, lest you not be able to repay the loan.

Whereas in the case of using a credit card to make a purchase the store gets paid regardless of whether you eventually pay off the credit card or not.

So its not for the store to judge whether you are financially responsible or not (as there is no risk to them), as the bank (or other financial intuition) has already decided to to extend you that credit based on an assessment that you are a good credit risk.

At least Norway accept debit cards as an alternative, it would be a pain to have to use cash if visiting.

 

[Pushka]

Not quite the same thing though. When applying for a loan you are asking for more credit so the bank considers the total credit you already have, lest you not be able to repay the loan.

Whereas in the case of using a credit card to make a purchase the store gets paid regardless of whether you eventually pay off the credit card or not.

So its not for the store to judge whether you are financially responsible or not (as there is no risk to them), as the bank (or other financial intuition) has already decided to to extend you that credit based on an assessment that you are a good credit risk.

At least Norway accept debit cards as an alternative, it would be a pain to have to use cash if visiting.

Refinancing requires it too. Same loan amount. I don't think it's a store thing. It might be the requirement stipulated by the bank for their store. Maybe they have financing etc. We don't like credit card use in our business (which isn't a retail one). This has nothing to do with any assessment of the clients ability to pay, but a business decision. We don't have random customers.

 

[Lynda2475]

Refinancing requires it too. Same loan amount.

Sure but usually it is a different bank, so they may not trust the assessment of the other bank.

It would be nice if banks looked at how much of your available credit you are actually using, but they don't and this is a known thing, so most temporarily reduce the number of cards or their limits if seeking a new or refinanced mortgage.

But in the case of using credit you already have be that redraw or credit card, a merchant need not worry about your credit worthiness, the bank pays them and you are the banks problems.

Norway seems to be a bit more of a nanny state than even Australia.

 

[Pushka]

Norway seems to be a bit more of a nanny state than even Australia.

Pas possible! Heaven help them.

 

[Lost Redditor]

Sure but usually it is a different bank, so they may not trust the assessment of the other bank.

It would be nice if banks looked at how much of your available credit you are actually using, but they don't and this is a known thing, so most temporarily reduce the number of cards or their limits if seeking a new or refinanced mortgage.

But in the case of using credit you already have be that redraw or credit card, a merchant need not worry about your credit worthiness, the bank pays them and you are the banks problems.

Norway seems to be a bit more of a nanny state than even Australia.

Yes nanny state in many ways! They sell beer in the supermarkets (up until 6pm) but if you want anything stronger you need to go to the "Vinmonopol" or Wine Monopoly. Government owned, taxed through the roof, and specials are not allowed. Advertising also illegal. Also really annoying opening hours, like 6pm weekdays, 2pm Saturday, closed Sunday.

However, Australia also has some nanny state tendencies. Such as laws requiring helmets on push bikes (yes I agree it's dangerous) and $400 fine for having your arm out the window of a car etc

 

[downgraded]

Refinancing requires it too. Same loan amount

There's a fundamental difference between using a credit card to buy something and refinancing or redrawing, or borrowing on a loan. You're not talking about the same thing. Credit cards agree upfront there's no interest if you pay by the due date whereas a loan you've agreed to pay a fee (interest) come what may. The credit card potentially has no cost of credit whereas the loan is guaranteed to leave you out of pocket.

 

[downgraded]

Seems a crazy leap of logic to assume that because you use a credit card you are irresponsible with money and actually need the credit.

potentially a misinterpretation as well. Credit cards cost the merchant in ways other forms of payment don't. Australian merchants can just now add their fees to accept and pass through credit cards costs where perhaps other countries still don't allow that?